64 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. TSS/SL^S^ri^^^^^^ 
but instead of being all alike, tliey consist of two structures wbicb 
are arranged in alternating wedges. One of these is entirely com- 
posed of elongated cells, but which, being arranged in linear rows 
radiating from pith to bark, and being separated from the former 
by a defined line, this tissue is to be regarded as a modified form of 
pleurenchyma rather than of parenchyma. The intermediate radiating 
laminae or wedges resemble slices cut out of a coniferous dadoxylon, 
having the same reticulated fibres and muriform medullary rays, the 
latter consisting of a single vertical row of cells. These structures 
replace corresponding wedges in the calamites recently described by 
E. W. Binney, Esq., but in which latter the wedges consist wholly of 
masses of scalariform tissue unfurnished with medullary rays. Imme- 
diately below each node Professor Williamson pointed out the existence 
of a verticil of prolongations of the pith, penetrating the cellular wedges 
of the woody layer like the spokes of a wheel. These he terms " ver- 
ticillate medullary radii," to distinguish them from the ordinary 
medullary rays of the fibrous wedges. These fibrous and cellular 
wedges run uninterruptedly in a longitudinal direction along each 
joint or internode of the calamite, but at each node their arrangement 
is altered. If prolonged, the cellular wedges of one joint would run 
into the fibrous wedges of those above and below it. But as the fibres 
of the fibrous wedges are continued from one internode to the other, 
they break up as they approach each node, their fibrous laminae being 
twisted in an extraordinary manner as they cross the node, in order to 
redistribute themselves right and left to the fibrous wedges of the 
joint above. In this part of the plant the fibrous laminae and medul- 
lary rays and the cells of the cellular layer become intermingled in a 
remarkable way. At the base of each cellular lamina especially the 
fibres radiate from a common centre in an almost inexplicable manner. 
Brighton and Sussex Natural History Society. 
The last report of this Society, though full of interesting matter, 
contains no abstract of papers on microscopical or histological 
subjects. 
Oxford Microscopical Society. 
We are sorry to learn from the Secretary (Mr. H. M. Tuckwell) 
that the meetings of this Society have for some time past been sus- 
pended. We observe therefore with some surprise the statement of one 
of our contemporaries, that it has made arrangement for reporting the, 
meetings of this Association. 
Beading Microscopical Society. 
llth Nov. 1868. 
At this, the annual meeting of the Society, the retiring council 
and officers presented their report and financial account, after which 
the President and Secretary were re-elected and a new council chosen. 
The paper for the evening was by the President, Captain Lang, 
and was entitled " Some further Eemarks on the Proboscis of the Fly 
and the Spinnerets of Epeira diadema." 
